title: Heterogeneous subcellular morphology of lung adenocarcinoma cells: identification of different cytotypes on cytological material.
abstract: We performed an electron microscopic study of cytologic material from 20 cases of primary lung adenocarcinoma (pleural effusion, 13 cases; fine needle aspiration biopsy, 7 cases). Ultrastructural characteristics related to secretory and storing activity of adenocarcinoma cells were evaluated semiquantitatively. Data analysis identified three basic cell types (secretory, well or poorly differentiated; storing; and indifferent). We could classify our cases in five groups of pure or mixed cytotypes. Our results demonstrated a subcellular morphological heterogeneity manifested by the presence of different basic cell types: secretory, storing or indifferent features (or both); and different secretory and storage products in the same cell. This heterogeneity of lung adenocarcinoma cells suggests that the neoplasm could arise from a single cell type capable of differentiating along different lines. Cases lacking secretory differentiation seemed to be characterized by more aggressive biologic behavior. A clear correlation between the ultrastructural cytotypes identified and the clinical and prognostic data on the patients was not observed. This may be due to the fact that 75% of the patients were in clinical stage III at the time of diagnosis; also, in this series only five cases did not have characteristics that indicated secretory activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Milan, San Raffaele Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taccagni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dell'Antonio
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Terreni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cantaboni
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000473:pathology; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D006003:Glycogen